Syd'Quan Thompson: The Next Great Cornerback Coming Out of Cal

The California Golden Bears recently have come up with running back after running back that was able to gain at least 1,000 yards in a season but lost in the talent of running backs. The Bears have also been producing great cornerbacks. 

The first that I can remember was actually a two-way player for the Bears. He started out as a running back though, but in his junior year, he became a starting cornerback. That was Deltha O'Neal, and he excelled as a corner. 

In 1999, O'Neal had the best year as a corner in California history and it still hasn't been matched. He had nine interceptions during that year, including four that were returned for touchdowns. The longest was a pass he picked off of Joey Harrington and he returned it 100 yards. 

Not only that, O'Neal was also the team's kick and punt returner. He also scored on two kickoff returns. For his career at Cal, O'Neal was able to score in a variety of ways, considering he started out at running back.

He had five touchdowns from returning interceptions, one punt return touchdown, two kickoff returns for touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, two receiving, and one touchdown throwing the ball. 

O'Neal was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos with the 15th pick. He's been a solid corner in the NFL and he's a two time Pro-Bowler and once selected as an all-pro. Over his career, O'Neal has returned kicks and punts as well. 

He's had two punt returns for touchdowns and one kickoff return. Most importantly though, in 2005, he lead the NFL in interceptions with 10 and in his second year, which was 2001, he had nine interceptions as well. For his career, O'Neal has 34 career interceptions, 390 tackles, and three defensive touchdowns. 

Taking O'Neal's place for California at cornerback is probably now the most underrated corner in the Nnamdi Asomugha. Unlike O'Neal, Nnamdi had a huge size advantage, being 6'3 and 215lbs, compared to O'Neal being 5'11". 

Asomugha was a first-round pick as well, but he was taken as the 31st overall pick by the Oakland Raiders. For his career at Cal, he had 197 tackles, eight interceptions, and three career touchdowns. Unlike O'Neal, he wasn't brought in as a running back and wasn't used as a punt or kick returner either. 

So far in his relatively young career, Asomugha has 10 interceptions and one career touchdown, and he has 257 career tackles as well. Most quarterbacks don't even look their receivers way if Asomugha is covering their No. 1 receiver, because of his height and his ability to pickoff passes. 

The corner that took the place of Asomugha when he was drafted was Daymeion Hughes, better known these days as Dante. He was also another extremely talented corner who made it to the Bears. 

In 2006, he was voted as the defensive player of the year in the nation (Ronnie Lott Impact Trophy) and he was a first-team All-American. In his senior year at Cal, he had eight interceptions and 72 tackles. 

After playing all four years at Cal, he registered a total of 15 interceptions and had 190 career tackles. Like Asomugha, he had the height to be a major factor in the NFL (6'2").

So far, though, Hughes hasn't made a huge impact in the NFL. He just finished his second season in the league. He was a third-round pick at No. 95 to the Indianapolis Colts. 

In his first two years, Hughes has 25 total tackles and one interceptions. He hasn't lived up to his potential yet, but he will be a solid corner in the league soon. 

Now, onto who will be the next cornerback from Cal that's going to make some noise in the NFL draft, and that is Syd'Quan Thompson. Thompson could enter into the draft this year because he just completed his senior year, but if he stays in school, he would be considered by many to be the top cornerback in college football. 

Thompson is a great tackler in the open field. He has the ability to get after the quarterback on a blitz, and he has excellent cover skills. He could quite possibly be the best of the bunch that have come out of Cal recently. Although, he maybe a little bit under what Deltha O'Neal was able to do in his senior year at Cal. 

Teams are not even going to look to throw where Thompson is he is that good. Rarely does Thompson get beat on a throw, and he's been a starter at cornerback since his freshman year as well. 

In his career at Cal so far, he has had six interceptions, 202 tackles, and two sacks. Those numbers will go up if he does return for a senior year. If he does go into the draft, he will be one of the first cornerbacks taken.